WRA seeks $170K for Union Station marijuana office renovations

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission and the City of Worcester are closer on a deal to move the marijuana regulators to Union Station, as the Worcester Redevelopment Authority is poised to spend $170,000 on renovations to the vacant second-floor space.

The WRA, which owns the building, will vote Friday on the funding of a contract amendment for Nault Architects of Worcester to design the renovations to the 13,700-square-foot space formerly occupied by engineering firm VHB and the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission.

The expected vote comes shortly after the CCC gave the city its conditional acceptance of a proposal to move to the western terminus of the Framingham-Worcester Commuter Rail line after a city-wide search including 10 other possible locations primarily in the downtown area.

The space would be leased to the state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance for the CCC.

The agency issued a request for proposals in April, seeking at least 13,000-square-feet of office space in Worcester. The state's pot industry regulating body is seeking a 10-year lease for about 50 employees. Included in the CCC's request is a location accessible via public transportation. Union Station checks off that box.

So far, there have been 47 marijuana business license applications in Worcester County, far more than any other county. Berkshire County, with 20, is the only county to eclipse the 20 mark.